Chesil Speedsters

Chesil Speedsters

Author
Discussion

ParanoidAndroid

Original Poster:

1,359 posts

282 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
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Been admiring the Chesil Speedster for a while now. Just wondered if anyone on here has one? What they are like to drive, what the performance is like with the various engine size options available (not expecting a rocket ship but is it adequate day to day). Notice you can pick them up second hand for around £20k but assume they will need a bit of money spent to bring them up to scratch, are new build costs similar?

Basically after some ownership views really.

Edited to add: I'm 6'3, will I fit given the low windscreen? biggrin

Cheers
Graham

Edited by ParanoidAndroid on Wednesday 2nd September 00:15

JohnMcL

143 posts

142 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
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Graham,
Check out the Convertible D option. Has a taller screen.

DougieMc

1,794 posts

220 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
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Had our Chesil for 4 years now
They are mega Ive done Euro trip in it too and many trips to Scotland.
I cant comment on the height thing as Im a shorty.
Im in Bedfordshire if your local I can show you round my car and explain a few bits.

Mine had long 4th transmission from Camper which makes alot of difference and makes it much more driveable.
A couple of guys I know locally have them and both are over 6ft but will depend on what seats the car has fitted to work out if your comfortable or not.
Feel free to Pm me with any questions.

gilbo

460 posts

199 months

Thursday 3rd September 2015
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I've recently bought an Aston V8 Vantage and I've got to say I'm very tempted to chop it in already, for a Chesil Speedster! They look simply stunning and real good value. smile

ParanoidAndroid

Original Poster:

1,359 posts

282 months

Thursday 3rd September 2015
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Thanks for the replies, DougieMC, your speedster looks stunning, and what an epic trip you did! Really encouraging to see it being used in earnest. I probably wont be doing anything until spring next year as have kitchen extension on the go at the moment but certainly interested in the Speedster as my next toy (although do hanker after a Cobra as well). Wanted something we could take down to Italy so its great to see they are capable of that sort of mileage. How did you find the comfort levels? See you have the original seats, which I also prefer but a lot seem to go for the more modern and assume more comfortable option. What's the performance like with the 2 litre engine?

As much as I'd like to I don't have the time myself to build from scratch and only have a single garage so space a bit limited. I'd therefore have to get Chesil to build (assume £30k'ish?) or look to buy 2nd hand (approx £20k). Seem to be a few on the market but not many with the bigger 2 litre engine. How long did Chesil take to build yours Dougie?

Cheers
Graham


DougieMc

1,794 posts

220 months

Thursday 3rd September 2015
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Ref seats the original Leman style which Ive got are really comfortable as they just grab you below your ribs and you sit nice on them they do look uncomfortable but are great but as mentioned Im a shorty so may be different

Your correct in the price I speced and have done some changes to make mine more authentic as most look like kit cars with MX5 seats and wool twirl carpets but this is where the extra price comes.
Chesil built cars will take a premium when buying used but at least you can trust the build side of things.
Ref buying new the only problem is the owner of the company he is just so so so hard work and doesnt realise how lucky he is to have the product.
If it wasnt for me gaining access to the workshop Technician I would have walked half way through the build.
But the quality is great and everyone loves it.

The 2.0 does mean it has more oomph but the trans is the big part that makes it so useable and driveable especially for a roadtrip.
At the end of the day it doesnt weigh much so doesnt need much push to get it moving.
Hope this helps


Edited by DougieMc on Thursday 3rd September 17:34

ParanoidAndroid

Original Poster:

1,359 posts

282 months

Thursday 3rd September 2015
quotequote all
DougieMc said:
Ref buying new the only problem is the owner of the company he is just so so so hard work and doesnt realise how lucky he is to have the product.
Yes, I think it was him I tried to chat to at the Stoneleigh show this year, he wasn't very chatty or interested in answering my questions given they were exhibiting there. Very brief answers then wandered off! Not the best.

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Thursday 3rd September 2015
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DougieMc said:
At the end of the day it doesnt way much so doesnt need much push to get it moving.
'Way' what? Is this some kind of speech-to-text machine?

Dougie's car is great. It looks _huge_ with him driving though. Maybe that's his smaller one...

DougieMc

1,794 posts

220 months

Thursday 3rd September 2015
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Magic919 said:
'Way' what? Is this some kind of speech-to-text machine?

Dougie's car is great. It looks _huge_ with him driving though. Maybe that's his smaller one...
Oi back in your box with your little Beetle aswell
PH grammer and spelling Police does not work with my Scottish vocab
Yerp Mr Bailey charming character but great product and Goose in the workshop was awesome

Edited by DougieMc on Thursday 3rd September 17:35


Edited by DougieMc on Thursday 3rd September 21:05

ParanoidAndroid

Original Poster:

1,359 posts

282 months

Saturday 5th September 2015
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Read on http://www.speedstersandspyders.org.uk/tucker-tony... that the owner had a lowered drivers side floorpan so that may be an option. Not sure how they do that given its a beetle chassis.


DougieMc

1,794 posts

220 months

Tuesday 8th September 2015
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ParanoidAndroid said:
Read on http://www.speedstersandspyders.org.uk/tucker-tony... that the owner had a lowered drivers side floorpan so that may be an option. Not sure how they do that given its a beetle chassis.
Not needed as mentioned I have 2 guys local to me that are well over 6 ft and are fine.
Remember you lay in one of these you dont sit in it and the floor pan distance into the pedals is huge.
As mentioned if your in the Bedfordshire area let me know and I will happily show you round.

johnymac

285 posts

170 months

Tuesday 8th September 2015
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My wife has had her Chesil Speedster for about 14 years now and really loves it. It looks really pretty but is pretty crap to drive. you can fit powerful engines in them and uprate the suspension and brakes like on any other car but which ever way you cut it they all drive like an original Beetle.

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Tuesday 8th September 2015
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A lot of Porsches are just like that.

DougieMc

1,794 posts

220 months

Wednesday 9th September 2015
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johnymac said:
My wife has had her Chesil Speedster for about 14 years now and really loves it. It looks really pretty but is pretty crap to drive. you can fit powerful engines in them and uprate the suspension and brakes like on any other car but which ever way you cut it they all drive like an original Beetle.
Completely agree but nobody buys these instead of a GT3.
The fun is in the look of it and the joy of it driving like an original beetle.
As mentioned above the engine and transmission purely makes it more useable

ParanoidAndroid

Original Poster:

1,359 posts

282 months

Friday 11th September 2015
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Thanks for the offer to view your Speedster Dougie, I'm in North Hampshire so Bedfordshire is a bit of a trek away which is a shame. Certainly will PM you if I'm ever heading up that way.

Agree with the comments around driving, from reading various forums you can get them to perform and handle nicely however it will always feel a bit archaic but to me that's part of the appeal for a weekend toy. However this is coming from someone who has never driven one or an original beetle, may hate the experience! biggrin

AOCMAX

35 posts

103 months

Tuesday 15th September 2015
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Graham, I should have picked up on this thread before now but I’m a newbe so forgive me. I’ve just bought one after not very long searching and have to say quite happy I did. It doesn’t drive like my modern 911 but then I new it wouldn’t. I’m not an expert and don’t have time to tinker with things so buying from Chesil with a 3 month warranty was an obvious choice. You’ll always find someone local to take care of one after that. You can read my original thread here with some pictures of the car. Best of luck.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Would be interested to hear how you get on and also hear from anyone where I can get some nice chrome engine parts....



Edited by AOCMAX on Tuesday 15th September 13:39


Edited by AOCMAX on Tuesday 15th September 13:46

ParanoidAndroid

Original Poster:

1,359 posts

282 months

Tuesday 15th September 2015
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Hi AOCMAX,

Great to see you got one, looks stunning too. Assume you bought one of their used cars? What's the spec?

Rich135

768 posts

241 months

Tuesday 15th September 2015
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That looks really nice, thanks for posting the link.

I assume you ended up spending a little more than your first budget (this isn't a "how much did you pay for it" reply, I promise!). I ask as I have a budget of around £15k and would love a Chesil, as it would keep the wife happy too!

Many thanks

Rich

Edited to add: just checked their site and pleased to see a few just over my budget... exciting!

Edited by Rich135 on Tuesday 15th September 16:49


Edited by Rich135 on Tuesday 15th September 16:51

ParanoidAndroid

Original Poster:

1,359 posts

282 months

Tuesday 15th September 2015
quotequote all
Rich135 said:
Edited to add: just checked their site and pleased to see a few just over my budget... exciting!

Edited by Rich135 on Tuesday 15th September 16:51
I'm not sure how current that stocklist is. I've been checking for last few months and nothing has changed so not so sure they keep it up to date unfortunately. May be worth giving them a call.

Rich135

768 posts

241 months

Tuesday 15th September 2015
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ParanoidAndroid said:
I'm not sure how current that stocklist is. I've been checking for last few months and nothing has changed so not so sure they keep it up to date unfortunately. May be worth giving them a call.
Ok thanks very much - always easy to assume the internet is up-to-date, but it rarely is!